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About Mandy Graham & her Blog

Mandy is a winner of Top 25 Teacher Moms - 2013

What's one of your favorite new books for children?

One of my favorite new children's books is "Pirates Don't Change Diapers" by David Shannon. My 4 year old son is obsessed with all things pirate and he relates to being the big brother to a baby sister. We love laughing with this adorable story and awesome pictures!

What advice would you give to a mom who thinks her child has too much homework?

If a mom thinks her child has too much homework I would recommend talking to the teacher and voice concerns. I would also have the mother talk with other moms to see if their child is having the same amount.

What's one of your favorite educational activities that can be done outside the classroom?

One of my favorite educational activities that I do inside my classroom as well as at home is observe caterpillars turn into butterflies. It is very easy, interesting, and educational for the whole family! Check out library books that talk about the butterfly life cycle, watch videos on you-tube, track the growth, etc. Your family will love it!

What are your favorite blog posts?

Mandy's Answers

What's a great gift parents can give teachers?

Teachers always love heartfelt thank you notes. Gift cards are also appreciated. Ask your child what hobbies or things their teacher is interested. You'll be surprised what your child knows . For example, what kind of drink their teacher always has on their desk. Good jumping off points would be to Target, Staples, Starbucks, Walmart, or bookstores. One of my favorite things to get from a student is a book. I always have the child write their name and date on the inside so I can always remember them.
I hope that you all have a wonderful Christmas season!

What can parents do to get their child ready for Kindergarten?

Parents can help their child get ready for Kindergarten by exposing them to books. Reading to them, allowing them to "read", and understanding print concepts will help them be successful. Also making sure students know their colors, ABCs, and numbers through 10 will also be extremely helpful. There are also inexpensive skill books that help with fine motor skills and dvds such as the LeapFrog series that really help get children ready!

How can parents get the most out of parent-teacher conferences?

Parents can get the most of parent-teacher conferences by doing the following: 1) Come prepared. Know your child's curriculum, study habbits, and student. 2) Be on time. If you can't make it, please contact the teacher beforehand! 3) Have an open mind. It's always hard to hear difficult things about your child. We all have areas to improve upon. Even our kiddos! 4) Celebrate your child's growth. Make sure your child knows how proud you are! The kids are usually so nervous for these conferences!

What trend (toy, game, clothing style, etc.) are kids your child's age hooked on right now? (Please include your child's age and a link if you can.)

Reagan who is 3 years old loves playing with his Cars toys. He has a little carpet that has a map of Radiator Springs on it and he loves to drive his cars all over the town. He is also big into his animal toys. We got a couple of bags from Lakeshore as well as from the Target dollar rack. He loves setting up zoos and playing with these wild animals!